In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosted by Ryan Rarick, the focus is on understanding and overcoming teacher burnout. Despite the absence of co-host Lauren Merkley, Ryan leads a valuable discussion with guests Lindsay Hinkins and Rachel Robins from Utah's fifth cohort of Teacher Fellows. The conversation covers the causes of burnout, such as decision fatigue and emotional exhaustion, and offers practical strategies for mitigating it. Key suggestions include setting boundaries, finding support, and practicing mindfulness. The episode concludes on a hopeful note, discussing positive shifts in the profession and the growing awareness and dialogue around teacher well-being.

00:00 Introduction and Topic Overview

01:12 Meet the Guests: Lindsay Hinkins and Rachel Robins

03:29 Defining Teacher Burnout

04:29 Causes of Burnout and Early Career Challenges

07:52 Strategies to Overcome Burnout

09:15 The Importance of Boundaries and Support

11:53 Mindfulness and Mental Health Practices

17:47 Positive Reinforcement and Admin Support

19:18 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• Lindsay Hinkins - District Digital Learning Specialist, Carbon School District
  • Instagram: @lindsayhinkins
• Rachel Robins - Secondary ELA, Washington County School District
  • Instagram:@therealmrsrobins

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• “The Let Them Theory” book by Mel Robbins

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2025 Rising Teacher Leader of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @itsteachertowner) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Technology Specialist, Project Manager, Podcast Producer, Teacher Engagement Lead, and the 2020 UCET Outstanding Young Educator Award

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.

In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley interview David Ma, CEO of Hope Street Group. David shares his unique journey from China to the U.S., through Google and Facebook, leading to his current role at Hope Street Group, a nonprofit focused on democratizing career and education opportunities. The discussion highlights Hope Street Group's new product, FutureMe, an AI-driven career exploration tool designed to help students discover potential career paths. David explains how FutureMe works, its impact on student engagement, and its alignment with Utah's data privacy requirements. The conversation also touches on the importance of ambitious thinking and the potential for AI to level the educational playing field.

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome

00:52 Introducing the Guest: David Ma, CEO of Hope Street Group

01:48 David Ma's Journey: From China to Tech Giant

07:08 Hope Street Group's Mission and Vision

09:25 FutureMe: Revolutionizing Career Exploration

11:33 Implementation and Impact of FutureMe

20:31 Ensuring Safety and Privacy in AI Tools

22:14 Final Takeaways and Reflections

25:43 Quick Highlight for Hope Street Group’s Future Ready AI Challenge

26:53 Conclusion and Upcoming Opportunities

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• David Ma - CEO of Hope Street Group
  • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtma/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• 🚀Full Demo: hopestreetgroup.org/launch-demo

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2025 Rising Teacher Leader of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @mrstowner9) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Technology Specialist, Project Manager, and Podcast Producer.

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.

In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley are joined by Brooke Anderson, a data scientist from Jordan School District, and Stephan Seabury, a social studies teacher and James Madison Fellow for 2023. They discuss the importance of integrating data with policy to enhance the teaching profession. They explore how data can be reframed to empower teachers, the role of storytelling in making data impactful for policymakers, and actionable steps teachers can take to engage in policy-making processes. The guests emphasize the need for accessible, transparent data and the critical role of context in interpreting it.

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome

01:14 Meet the Guests: Brooke Anderson and Stephan Seabury

02:23 Brooke Anderson on Data Science in Education

03:11 Empowering Teachers with Data

05:23 Using Data in Policy Conversations

09:20 How Teachers Can Get Involved in Policy

14:58 Making Data Transparent and Accessible

22:09 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways

25:37 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• Brooke Anderson - K12 Data Scientist in Jordan School District, Data Analyst for the Teacher Fellows
• Stephan Seabury - History Teacher for Providence Hall High School, Teacher and Community Engagement for the Teacher Fellows

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Utah State Legislature Website - https://le.utah.gov/

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2025 Rising Teacher Leader of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @mrstowner9) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Technology Specialist, Project Manager, and Podcast Producer.

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.